Hello, as the year winds down I realize that I had done a lot of Time Team episodes over the past few years.  Today’s blog will feature the Top Time Team episodes that I have featured over the years on this blog.  However, instead of doing a Top 10 List for the Time Team, since there were quite a few episodes, I will be doing a Top 30 List for 2024.  Today’s blog will kick off the Top 20 with the Top 30-21 episodes of the Time Team.  I will be featuring the Time Team episodes from 2021-2024.

Now for my usual disclaimer, these episodes are my opinion only and should only be used as a guide to help a teacher prepare the lesson plan.  These blogs are my opinion and should be taken with a grain of salt.

Time Team Top 30-21
30) High Worsall - YouTube (50:35)
Time Team makes their way to High Worsall, a town near Middlesborough.  It was a village that almost completely disappeared.  The Time Team is looking to find any remaining buildings including a manor house.  Robin Bush and Dawn Hadley help research the village and try to imagine what life would have been like for the villagers.  Why did this village almost completely disappear?  What happened to its people?  What will the Time Team find out in three days?  *Recommended for a history class.*

29) In the Shadow of Tor - YouTube (47:32)
Time Team is in one of the most hostile environments in Great Britain in Cornwall.  However, 5,000 years ago it was the most ideal place to have a home.  Why were Prehistoric people drawn to the site?  How did they survive?  Time Team has three days to find out.  The location in Cornwall is weather-scared and a witness to 1,000’s years of human history.  Nobody can say for sure how old the ruins in Cornwall are.  *Recommended for independent study students.*

28) Lord of the Isles - YouTube(46:07)
There was a set of ruins that dominated a kingdom in Scotland for decades.  The Time Team will brave the rain to explore a Scottish Island.  The National Museum of Scotland has partnered with the Time Team to excavate the site.  It is important for the Time Team to help with this dig because the National Museum will run out of money to fund the dig.  Once the money runs out, there will be no more digs.  What will the Time Team find out about the Lords of the Isles?  *Highly recommended for a fun day in history class.*

27) Animal Farm - YouTube (48:35)
Carved stonework, posh bits and bobs, coins, and a horse bit are among the finds that brought the Time Team to this farm.  A photograph of the field shows some pretty interesting lines in the landscape.  Amateur archeologists took to the site and found something.  They are on a search for a grand Norman Hunting Lodge.  However, it does not take long before their findings point in a different direction.  Why were there so many grand finds on this farm? *Recommended for a history fun day!  Recommended for a science class.*

26) How to Lose a Castle - YouTube (46:14)
For generations, farmers are wondering if there was a castle on the hill.  Local legend talks about there being a castle on the hill from the Norman period.  However, there were no records of the castle nor there is a reason why a castle would be built on the hill.  This hill is the biggest in Somerset and the Time Team is in for a workout climbing up.  Was there really a castle on this hill?  The Time Team will have three days to solve the mystery of the castle.  *HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for a science class.*

25) Henry VIII's Lost Armory and Jousting Yard - YouTube (48:50)
This Time the Time Team is exploring Henry VIII’s lost jousting grounds.  Henry VIII had inherited Greenwich Palace from his father and he made it a place for jousting.  The jousting grounds and the buildings around them have disappeared.  Time Team has three days to find them.  Nobody had excavated these sites and nobody knows what they looked like.   Will the Time Team succeed in their quest?  *Recommended for a history class and for independent study students.*

24) The Romans Recycle - YouTube (46:59)
Over the years metal detectorists have discovered a variety of metal artifacts from the Roman, Iron Age, and Saxon periods in a field that is between two villages.  The finds are in Lincolnshire and the locals believe there was a posh building in the area.  Lincoln was a great center for Roman Britain, however, there are no records of Wickenby being a center of Roman occupation.  So why are there so many finds?  The Time Team has three days to find out.  *Recommended for a history class and independent study students.*

23) Leaning Tower of Bridgenorth - YouTube (49:02)
The Time Team has three days to look for the remains of a medieval castle that would have dominated this former market town.  All that remains of this castle is a tower that is leaning at a far greater angle that is greater than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.  Unfortunately, the town’s history has been destroyed in a recent fire.  How many gardens will the Time Team have to investigate to learn about this castle?  Will the Time Team be able to find something of this castle?  *Recommended for a history class.*

22) Three Tales of Canterbury - YouTube (48:53)
Sandi Toksvig and Liza Tarbuk, rookie archeologists, join up with Tony and the Time Team.  The Time Team is going to tell three different stories about Canterbury.  The first story involves pagan temple.  Then the Time Team is going to excavate a Medieval Friary and perhaps come face to face with the pilgrims that would have made their way to Canterbury.  Finally the Time Team will learn about a medieval factory.  What will the Time Team find in three days?  *Recommended for a history class.*

21) King John's Lost Palace - YouTube (46:47)
Time Team is investigating a site in Sherwood Forest.  This is the place where legends were born.  Robin Hood gave King John and the Sheriff of Nottingham fits.  Local legend holds it that King John had a palace at the edge of the palace.  Tony is excited about the possibilities of this site.  However, they have their work cut out for them.  Are they on the verge of discovering a lost palace?  *Recommended for History, English, and independent study students.*

Hello and good morning!  It is the end of 2024 and I am doing my year-end reviews and top ten list.  Today we are going to look at the Top Ten Fun and Frivolous documentaries.  Mainly these are documentaries to be shown for fun and to give the students a brain break.  These documentaries are chosen from blogs done in the past two years.

The usual disclaimer, this list is my opinion only and should be taken with a grain of salt.  The purpose of this list is to help teachers, substitute teachers, and continuing learning lovers to help further learning select something to use for the classroom.


2023 Fun and Frivolous Documentaries
1) Pride and Prejudice: Having a Ball - YouTube (1:26:00)
2) Diva Mummy - YouTube (49:47)
3) Time Walks - Freemantle (26:14) Townsville  (25:33) Canberra (26:15)  Adelaide (25:29)  Launceston  (25:54) Barossa Valley (26:30)  Wellington (26:07)
Woolloomoolo (26:12) Bendigo (26:17)  Kalgoorie (26:08)  Brisbane (26:17) Parramatta (26:36)  Geelong (26:33)  Melbourne (26:46)  Carlton (26:38)  St. Kilda (26:47)  Hobart (26:47)  Newcastle (26:44)  Christchurch (26:11)  Alice Springs (26:20)
4) Princess Alice: The Queen's Mother-in-Law - YouTube (47:34)
5) France's Greatest Royal Painter: The Rise of Madam LeBrun - YouTube (51:20)
6) The Black Prince - YouTube (28:56)
7) Pendle Witch Trials - YouTube (59:64)
8) Marie Antoinette - YouTube (28:54)
9) Women Who Made History: Queen Luise - YouTube  (50:57)
10) Empress Josephine - YouTube (52:17)

2024 Fun and Frivolous Documentaries
1) 100 Years on the Lincoln Highway - YouTube (56:58)
The Lincoln Highway started in Times Square New York and crossed the country in San Francisco.  IT was the first cross-country road in America.  The country did not have many roads before the automobiles.  Every road was a bike path or a dirt road farmers used to get in and out of town.  These roads did not link together and go somewhere.  *Highly recommended for an American History classroom and for a substitute teacher to show in the classroom.*

2) The Last Trail of Butch and Sundance -  YouTube (50:23)
David Adams follows the trail of two American outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids in the deserts of Bolivia.  They had moved out of the US and settled in South America for a time.  In 1908, these two outlaws disappeared south of Bolivia, not far from Argentina.  Did they fake their deaths?  Or were they killed by the Bolivian Calvary?  Why do these outlaws continue to capture the public imagination?  David Adams learns more about this mystery and tries to discover the true story of what happened in their final hours.  *Recommended for a geography class.*

3) Walking Through Britain - Front-line Dorset (47:29)  Bronte Country (47:03)  The Tudor Way (46:48)  St. Cuthbert (46:56)  Battle of the Glens (47:41)  Rome in the Lakes (47:21)  Stonehenge (47:09)  Industrial Revolution (47:29)  North Norfolk (47:10)  Cornish Smuggling (47:03)  King John (47:12)  Pembrokeshire (46:51)  West England (47:34)  Leeds and Liverpool Canal (47:09)  Scottish Highlands (47:18)
In this series, Sir Tony Robinson discovers the history of Britain while on foot.  He goes on walking tours of Great Britain to discover history that really does not get told or seen.  He walks historic landscapes an travels through magnificent scenery.  In each episode, Tony embarks on a planned 60 Mile Walk.   The walks cover four ears in history featuring highlights of the era.  This is British history as only Sir Tony Robinson can tell it.  *Highly recommended for both a history and geography class.*

4) Diva Mummy - YouTube (49:47)
While ordinary people fought in battles, the aristocrats celebrated and grew wealthy.  There was a Han aristocrat named Lady Dai.  Lady Dai would not ordinarily make history.  However, when her tomb was opened the discovery sent shockwaves through the archeological community.  Her mummy was the best-preserved mummy in the world.  She was known as the perfect mummy.  Her lifelike mummy leaves the Egyptian efforts in the dust.  *Recommend for teacher and student research purposes.  Highly recommended for a history and science classroom.*

5) Secrets of the Victorian Workhouse - Episode 1 (43:45) Episode 2 (43:55)
Several UK celebrities explore their relatives’ experiences in the Victorian Workhouse.  The Victorian Workhouse was the place where the poor and destitute received free health care and food.   However, poverty was a crime in Victorian England, so the workhouse became famous for its harsh conditions.  One famous resident of the workhouse became the famous actor Charlie Chaplin.  His workhouse experiences inspired his acting and the characters he portrayed.  *Highly recommended for research purposes.*

6) Princess Alice: The Queen's Mother-in-Law - YouTube (47:34)
​Princess Alice was the mother of Prince Philip and the mother-in-law of Queen Elizabeth II.  She was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria and was born Princess Alice.  Her story begins when she is escaping an asylum.  She is caught.  Her family had locked her in the asylum.  She was born a princess but turned her back on royal life.  She had a strong personality.  She overcame her mental illness and disability to become a hero of World War II.  *Recommended for research purposes.*

7) The Black Prince - YouTube (28:56)
​The Black Prince was the hero to the English and he died young.  He was a warrior.  He lies in Canterbury Amber Buchart is going to have his cloth armor remade.  This cloth armor identified who he was and was worn over metal armor.  What will this cloth armor tell us about the Black Prince?  Will Ninya be able to come up with a way to recreate this garment?  *Highly recommended for a history class and a home economics class.  Highly recommended for independent study students.*

8) A Castle Full of Secrets: Neuschwanstein -YouTube (51:30)
Neuschwanstein Castle is a place of myths and legends.  It was a childhood dream of a future King and became one of the most exciting building projects in the world.  The foundation stone was laid on September 5, 1869, by King Ludwig II of Bavaria.  He would not live long enough to live in this lovely castle.  His sudden death gave the castle its legendary status.  Soon after his death, the castle was opened to show the public how crazy the dead king one.  It would survive two world wars and would become the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty.  *Highly recommended for both a history and geography class.  Highly recommended for research purposes.*

9) Tale of Two Sisters - YouTube (48:32)
Historians explore the relationship between Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth.  They were sisters, they were both rivals for the English throne and they became enemies.  Mary was the abused stepsister.  Elizabeth was the loved child of an unpopular queen.  Mary was a figurehead for the Catholics.  Elizabeth was a figurehead for the New Religion.  It is a fascinating look at the relationship between Mary and Elizabeth.  It ended with Queen Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne.  *Highly recommended for research purposes.*

10) Pride and Prejudice: Having a Ball - YouTube (1:26:00)
Over 200 years ago, Pride and Prejudice was published.  It was one of Jane Austen’s most beloved novels.  To appreciate and understand the novels in the world Jane Austen lived in, a group will perform an experiment.  They will recreate a regency ball.  What would have really happened at the ball?  This is a way to help understand what Jane Austen was trying to say.  This group will recreate the sites and sound of the ball and will reveal the hierarchies involved in the Regency Era.  ​ *Highly recommended for both a history classroom and an English classroom.*

It is the end of 2024 and today I will present a Top Ten list of documentary series that was featured on the blog.  However, I am not going to limit this section to just the Top 10 Documentary series.  This is going to be a two-part series: The Top 20 Documentary Series.  Today’s second part will be the Top 10.

The rules are simple, they had to be featured in the blog or on my database list over the past two years.  They have to have multiple episodes on a topic.

So will my 2024 Top Ten list remain the same as last year?  Or will there be a new top documentary series on the list?  Follow the rest of this blog to find out!

2023 Top 10 Documentaries
1. 1491: The Story of North America Before Columbus Episode 1 (47:25)  Episode 2 (46:56) Episode 3 (47:29) Episode 4 (47:15) Episode 5 (46:40)  Episode 6 (48:40)  Episode 7 (47:23)
2. *Face of Britain: Episode 1 (46:59) Episode 2 (46:54) Episode 3 (47:35)
3. The Last Journey of the Vikings - Episode 1 (49:55) Episode 2 (49:32)  Episode 3 (49:52) Episode 4 (49:58)
4. Charlemagne - Episode 1 (50:42)  Episode 2  (50:14)  Episode 3 (51:56)
5. Lost Kingdoms of Africa
6. Immortal Egypt:  Episode 1  Episode 2  Episode 3  Episode 4
7. A Stitch in Time with Amber Butchart
8. Storm over Europe - Episode 1 (51:17)  Episode 2  (50:35)  Episode 3  (50:08)  Episode 4  (50:19)
9. Rome without Limits with Mary Beard - Episode 1 (58:34) Episode 2 (59:00) Episode 3 (58:59) Episode 4 (59:00)
10. The Women Who Made History

2024 Top 10 Documentaries
1) 1491: The Story of North America Before Columbus Episode 1 (47:25)  Episode 2 (46:56) Episode 3 (47:29) Episode 4 (47:15) Episode 5 (46:40)  Episode 6 (48:40)  Episode 7 (47:23)
The First Nations crossed oceans and settled on the North American Continent. The First Nations people navigated their world by the stars.  They crossed mountains and rivers.  They built a variety of trade networks.  Their people built civilizations.  In 1492 their lives changed with the arrival of Christopher Columbus.  So what were the stories of the First Nations before Columbus?  *Highly recommended for a high school classroom, certain episodes can also be used in the art classroom as well!*

2) The Spice Trail - Episode 1 (58:27)  Episode 2 (57:43) Episode 3 (57:52)
Spices help transform meals and have revolutionized the way we eat.  Spices changed the course of human history.  Kate Humble travels the globe to learn how spices became a part of our kitchens.  She learns about pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, vanilla, and saffron.  She follows the first spice explorers.  She learns about where these spices came from, their impact on the people, and how spices shaped the modern world.  *Highly recommended for both a history class and a food science class.*

3) Europe in the Middle Ages - Episode 1 (52:30)  Episode 2 (54:22)  Episode 3  (51:56) Episode 4 (52:23)
The Middle Ages were often considered a dark and dreary time.  Four estates lived during this time: knights, monks, peasants, and beggars.  This series follows the lives of people from each level of society.  You will see the Middle Ages through their eyes.  What was the reality of that?  However, it is a time when the modern age was born.  So what can we discover about the Middle Ages through these groups?  Was the Middle Ages all that dark?  *Highly recommended for the middle school history classroom.*

4) The Last Journey of the Vikings - Episode 1 (49:55) Episode 2 (49:32)  Episode 3 (49:52) Episode 4 (49:58)
The Last Journey of the Vikings is a docudrama series about the Viking People.  They traveled widely and shaped European politics.  What is the truth about the Vikings?  In the Eighth Century, the Vikings started appearing along the coasts of Europe.  With their fierce warriors, they gained a reputation as Europe’s terrorizers.  They targeted monasteries because the monks could not defend themselves.  Eventually, the Vikings’ strategy changed.  They mixed with the powerful.  So why did the Vikings become pirates?  How did they spread their influence over Europe?  Tune into this documentary to find out.  *Highly recommended for a middle school and high school classroom.  Highly recommended to mine for clips.*

5) Rome without Limits with Mary Beard - Episode 1 (58:34) Episode 2 (59:00) Episode 3 (58:59) Episode 4 (59:00)
Mary Beard explores the history of the Roman Empire beginning with the origin myths, the period of the republic, and the Empire.  She explores the Roman Empire beyond Rome and travels to a variety of places that were a part of the Empire.  She concludes the series with the question why did Rome fall?  It is a fascinating dive into the Roman Empire.  This documentary is a needed update to what available documentaries.  *Highly recommended for a middle school and high school classroom.  If you do not have space for all the documentaries, then show clips.*

6) Immortal Egypt:  Episode 1 (58:49)  Episode 2 (58:47) Episode 3 (58:58) Episode 4 (58:51)
Joann Fletcher explores the history of Ancient Egypt over four episodes.  She explores the height of Egypt's power, what caused Egypt to decline.  She takes us to Egypt's beginnings and weaves a tale of glory followed by despair.  She shows off grand monuments and the smallest finds.  This is an excellent documentary series to show while students are studying Ancient Egypt.  *Recommend this documentary for middle school and high school classrooms.*

7) The Great Plague - Episode 1 (43:50)  Episode 2 (44:18)  Episode 3 (44:13)
London was hit by the Great Plague in 1665.  100,000 people in London were killed over eighteen months.  The plague spread throughout the country as well killing more people.  What are the plagues' parallels to COVID-19?  Xand van Tulleken, Raksha Dave, and John Sergeant work to trace the origins of the plague in London over three episodes.  Xand looks at the records to see where it started.  Raksha looks at how the disease spread.   John discovers the symptoms of the plague and how it was transmitted. *Recommended for a history class.*

8) Storm over Europe - Episode 1 (51:17)  Episode 2  (50:35)  Episode 3  (50:08)  Episode 4  (50:19)
Barbarians were heading to Rome.  What made these barbarians leave their homelands?  They left behind beautiful objects in their wake.  They were in the search of a new homeland because another tribe was threatening their lives and livelihoods.  Eventually, Rome was sacked.  These barbarians would be left to pick up the pieces Rome left behind.  Who were these invaders?  Why were they called barbarians?  How did they shape European history?  What did they leave behind?  *Recommended for a middle school history classroom.  Appropriate for independent study students.*

9) The Truth About Franco: Inside Spain's Forgotten Dictatorship - Episode 1 (53:11)  Episode 2 (52:50)  Episode 3 (52:31)  Episode 4 (53:38)
Francisco Franco was a Spanish general who seized power in Spain during the Civil War.  He was considered one of Europe’s most enigmatic dictators.  He would rule Spain with an iron fist for four decades.  He once said that he had no problem killing Spain to prevent the Marxists from taking over.  He was a man who had many faces but could not shut up.  Spain still has the scars of his reign.  Who was the man? *Highly recommended for a history class and for use in research projects.*

10) Charlemagne - Episode 1 (50:42)  Episode 2  (50:14)  Episode 3 (51:56)
Charlemagne was the most important Emperor of the Middle Ages.  The story begins with a monk gathering wood for a fire.  He was a scholar in Charlemagne’s court and was his friend.  He is the narrator of Charlemagne’s story.  He was crowned Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day.  He was the most powerful ruler of his time.  Even the pope was intimidated by him.  He was superhuman.  However, what is a myth, and what is reality?  *Recommended for the history classroom and research purposes.*

It is the end of 2024 and today I will present a Top Ten list of documentary series that was featured on the blog.  However, I am not going to limit this section to just the Top 10 Documentary series.  This is going to be a two-part series: The Top 20 Documentary Series.  Today’s first part will be numbered 20-11.
The rules are simple, they had to be featured in the blog or on my database list over the past two years.  They have to have multiple episodes on a topic.

So will my 2024 Top Ten list remain the same as last year?  Or will there be a new top documentary series on the list?  Follow the rest of this blog to find out!
 
2023 Top 10 Documentary List
1. 1491: The Story of North America Before Columbus Episode 1 (47:25)  Episode 2 (46:56) Episode 3 (47:29) Episode 4 (47:15) Episode 5 (46:40)  Episode 6 (48:40)  Episode 7 (47:23)
2. *Face of Britain: Episode 1 (46:59) Episode 2 (46:54) Episode 3 (47:35)
3. The Last Journey of the Vikings - Episode 1 (49:55) Episode 2 (49:32)  Episode 3 (49:52) Episode 4 (49:58)
4. Charlemagne - Episode 1 (50:42)  Episode 2  (50:14)  Episode 3 (51:56)
5. Lost Kingdoms of Africa
6. Immortal Egypt:  Episode 1  Episode 2  Episode 3  Episode 4
7. A Stitch in Time with Amber Butchart
8. Storm over Europe - Episode 1 (51:17)  Episode 2  (50:35)  Episode 3  (50:08)  Episode 4  (50:19)
9. Rome without Limits with Mary Beard - Episode 1 (58:34) Episode 2 (59:00) Episode 3 (58:59) Episode 4 (59:00)
10. The Women Who Made History


2024 Top 20 Documentary Series
11. Lost Kingdoms of Africa
Gus Casley-Hayford explores lost African Kingdoms.  He explores the kingdom of the Zulu, Berbers, West Africa, Great Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and Nubia.  Gus travels around Africa to learn more about these kingdoms.  What was so mysterious about Great Zimbabwe?  Is Ethiopia where the Ark of the Covenant is located?  Where was the kingdom of gold?  This is a fantastic series on African Kingdoms.

12.  History of Africa
Zeniab Badawi explores the history of Africa over a nineteen-episode series.  She travels the width and breadth of Africa to tell Africa’s story from the perspective of Africans.  This series explores the hidden history of Africa and the different kingdoms and tribes that had their place in Africa’s history.  This is a rich in history documentary about Africa.

13. A Stitch in Time with Amber Butchart
Amber Butchart explores the history of fashion and how our perceptions of fashion changed.  She looks at six pieces of artwork and has them recreated.  She looks at the clothing of King Charles II to the common hedge cutter.  What was the true story of Marie Antoinette?  What can fashion tell us about history?  What can fashion tell us about the people?  This is an excellent series featuring experimental history.

14. The Lost Kingdoms of South America
Dr. Jago Cooper travels to South America to learn about the indigenous empires beyond the Incan Empire.  He learns about the people of the clouds, a second lost civilization, tours the lands of gold and concludes with the kingdom that carved a life out of the desert.  He learns about the newest discoveries that were made about each empire.

15.  Mummy Forensics
Dr. Joann Fletcher heads up a mummy forensics team to explore the life and death of a series of mysterious mummies.  Using the latest in technology this team learns about the history of the mummies, who the mummy was, why this mummy died, and what the mummy would have looked like in the past. 

16. The Great War In Numbers - Episode 1 (44:46) Episode 2(45:13)  Episode 3 (44:58) Episode 4 (45:09) Episode 5 (45:03) Episode 6 (45:02)
World War I: The Numbers covers the sheer numbers involved in World War I.  The Imperial powers were not satisfied with the vast territories and wealth they acquired over decades.  So when in 1914, when the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire was killed the world exploded.  This war would kill 18 million people.  This war would change world history.  *Recommended for a high school world history classroom.  Recommended for an independent study student.*

17. The Women Who Made History
This is another German-produced documentary series about the women who made history.  There are episodes on Elizabeth I, Queen Louise, Joan of Arc, Cleopatra, Catherine the Great, and Sophie Scholl.  This series explores the stories of these women and why they made history.  This series covers different eras so a teacher should find something that will fit with their teaching needs.  This Series also has English subtitles.

18. Baroque - Episode 1 (58:39)  Episode 2 (59:02)  Episode 3 (59:38)
Waldemar Januszczak explores the world of Baroque Art.  Baroque art spanned the 17th Century, spawning the greatest art.  It began in St. Peter’s in Rome.  It is an art form that embraces you.  It goes big and highlights the drama.  It could become dark and edgy.  It blurred the divide between art and reality.  The Baroque roped in other art forms to bring you into its world.  Music, sculpture, and architecture were all impacted by the Baroque arts.  *HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for an art class.  Episode 1 would be a good idea for a STEM class.*

19. Dark Ages: An Age of Light - Episode 1 (59:11)  Episode 2  (59:29)  Episode 3 (59:14)  Episode 4 (59:53)
Was the Dark Ages an Age of Light?  What happened when the Roman Empire collapsed?  This shocking question is one that historian Waldemar Januszczak will answer.  He travels around Europe, Africa, and Asia to discover the hidden secrets of the Dark Ages.  Waldemar makes the argument that the Dark Ages were an age of light and artistry.  The art never lies, the Dark Ages were not an age of darkness but an age of light.  *First episode recommended for art history class and not recommended for a history class.*

20. World War II in Numbers
This series explores the numbers that were involved in the Allied victory of World War II.  It covers the beginning of the war and Hitler’s blitzkrieg.  Then it goes into the Battle of Britian.  It talks about how the industrial power of America managed to turn the tide in favor of the Allies during World War II.  This was excellent in diving into the sheer numbers behind World War II.

Good morning, we are winding down 2024 with the Top 10 documentary lists of the documentaries that had been featured on this list.  Today’s list is Historic Reality TV.  I define historic reality TV as modern people going back in time to live during a certain time period like the Victorian, Edwardian, and Tudor time periods.  They do their chores using the tools of that time period. 

My list of History-Meets-Reality TV has grown over the years and I believe I have enough series to do a Top 10 List. 

This is your reminder that these lists are my opinion and are not endorsed by any educators.  I am providing my ideas for shows to incorporate into a classroom setting especially if there is a substitute teacher in the room.

2023  Historic Reality TV
1. *Wartime Farm:  YouTube Each Episode 59:00
2. Secrets of the Castle - Episode 1 (59:15) Episode 2 (58:24) Episode 3 (58:49) Episode 4 (58:50)
3. Time Crashers - Episode 1 (46:31)  Episode 2 (47:16) Episode 3 (46:12) Episode 4  (49:37) Episode 5 (46:25) Episode 6 (46:23)
4. *Tudor Monastery Farm: YouTube Amazon Prime Each Episode 59:00
5. The Victorian House of Arts and Crafts - Episode 1  (58:47)  Episode 2 (59:14) Episode 3 (59:14) Episode 4 (59:12)
6. *Full Steam Ahead: Episode 1 (58:16)  Episode 2  (58:16)  Episode 3  (58:13)  Episode 4 (58:10)
7. *Tales From Green Valley: Episode 1 (29:12) Episode 2 (29:11) Episode 3 (29:12) Episode 4 (29:12) Episode 5 (29:11) Episode 6 (29:12) Episode 7 (29:12) Episode 8 (29:11) Episode 9 (29:12) Episode 10 (29:13) Episode 11 (29:12) Episode 12 (29:12)
8. *Edwardian Farm: YouTube  Amazon Prime Each Episode 59:00
9. 1900 Island - Episode 1 (58:56) Episode 2 (58:55) Episode 3 (58:51) Episode 4  (58:55)
10. Turn Back Time - The Family - Episode 1 (56:46) Episode 2 (51:49) Episode 3 (57:14) Episode 4 (53:20) Episode 5  (52:03)

2024 Historic Reality TV
1) *Wartime Farm:  YouTube Each Episode 59:00
Ruth Goodman, Peter Ginn, and Alex Langladas as well as new team member Henry live as farmers facing the conditions of World War II.  Goodman, Ginn, and Langladas startup with setting up the farm for war conditions, planting the fields, and trying their hand at recycling.  They deal with rationing.  They also take in war refugees, participate in home defense and welcome the Americans.  *Highly recommended for both middle school and high school history and agricultural classrooms.  Highly recommend it for independent study students and clips.*

2) The Victorian House of Arts and Crafts - Episode 1  (58:47)  Episode 2 (59:14) Episode 3 (59:14) Episode 4 (59:12)
The Arts and crafts movement was at its height during the Victorian Period.  A group of men and women are rewriting the rule books for design and architecture.  They were starting a revolution.  They hated the drudgery of the Industrial Age.  They wanted to turn back the clock to the time when the craftsman was appreciated and bring art to the masses.  So what can the modern period learn about the Arts and Crafts movement?  Six modern crafters are going to spend a month together in a Victorian Artist Commune and will be remaking a house room by room.  *Recommended for an art class.*

3) Time Crashers - Episode 1 (46:31)  Episode 2 (47:16) Episode 3 (46:12) Episode 4  (49:37) Episode 5 (46:25) Episode 6 (46:23)
Time Crashers is a history meets reality TV series hosted by Tony Robinson.  Ten celebrities go back in time to explore six different periods of British history.  The different periods include the Elizabethan Era, the 1460’s, 1913, the Georgian Era, the Victorian Era, and the Iron Age.  The ten celebrities are Keith Allen, Kristie Alley, Fern Britton, Charlie Condou, Meg Mathews, Jermaine Jenas, Louise Minchin, Chris Ramsey, Greg Rutherford, and Zoe Smith.  Can they survive what history has to throw at them?  *Recommended for a history class and for a fun day in history.*

4) Secrets of the Castle - Episode 1 (59:15) Episode 2 (58:24) Episode 3 (58:49) Episode 4 (58:50)
Tom Pinfold, Ruth Goodman, and Peter Ginn explore medieval lives and how to build a castle.  This series shows off one of the longest historical experiments in history.  Pinfold, Goodman, and Ginn explore a variety of aspects of castle building.  They kick off the series by establishing their base and then move on doing building projects.  This is a STEM and STEAM-heavy series. *Highly recommend for a middle school and high school history and science classroom.*

5) Victorian Bakers - Episode 1 (54:33) Episode 2 (52:52) Episode 3 (49:46)
Four modern bakers will be sent back to Victorian Times.  They will start in the rural bakeries of the 1840s, to industrial bakeries, and finally the high street bakery.  Our four bakers will experience 63 years of history.  They will experience the conditions of a Victorian Bakery.  The bakers will experience hard work and will try things that have not been baked in over a century.  They will learn more about the bakery trade.  *Recommended for a food science class and history class.*

6) *Full Steam Ahead: Episode 1 (58:16)  Episode 2  (58:16)  Episode 3  (58:13)  Episode 4 (58:10)
Peter Ginn, Alex Langlands, and Ruth Goodman explore the history of British Railways in this series.  They start with how the railroads impact mining and local areas before going into how the railways impact Britain as a nation.  The railroad had as big an impact as the internet had.  Ginn, Langlands, and Goodman demonstrate the changes the railroad brought over the decades.  *Highly recommend for a middle school and high school history classroom.*

7) *Tudor Monastery Farm: YouTube Amazon Prime Each Episode 59:00
Ruth Goodman, Tom Pinford, and Peter Ginn live life as farmers during the Tudor period for a full calendar year.  Monasteries were an important part of Tudor Life and they were the landlords during this period.  They plant a field, raise livestock, and keep house using Tudor methods.  Ruth manages the house and dairy while the boys' Tom and Peter manage the fields.  This playlist includes Tudor Feast at Christmas.  *Recommended for all ages as well as for both a history classroom and agricultural classroom.*

8) 1900 Island - Episode 1 (58:56) Episode 2 (58:55) Episode 3 (58:51) Episode 4  (58:55)
Four families are heading back to 1900 and living in a small fishing village for a month.  The men will go fishing and the women will take care of the home.  The children will be educated in the 1900 schoolhouse.  So what hardships will these families face living this lifestyle?  What challenges will these families face?  Will the families come together to help each other?  Will they fall in love with the past?  *Recommended for a history class.*

9) *Edwardian Farm: YouTube  Amazon Prime Each Episode 59:00
Ruth Goodman, Peter Ginn, and Alex Langladas live as farmers during the Edwardian Period.  Goodman, Ginn, and Langladas plant market gardens, raise livestock and keep house using Edwardian methods.  They participate in daily Edwardian life and show how the Edwardian period brought changes to England.  *Recommend for a history classroom, highly recommend for an agricultural classroom.  Excellent series for an independent study student.*

10) Turn Back Time - The Family - Episode 1 (56:46) Episode 2 (51:49) Episode 3 (57:14) Episode 4 (53:20) Episode 5  (52:03)
This earlier series is where three families discover how families lived over several different periods including the Edwardian Period, Depression, World War II, and the 1960s.  Three houses were transformed throughout the series to reflect the decade they are in.  They lived in each house for a week.  The families are living the lives of their ancestors.  *Highly recommend for a history classroom and a family and consumer classroom.  Good series for independent study students.*

Good morning!  It is the end of 2024 and I am doing the normal end-of-the-year review stuff and top 10 Lists.  This year is my Top 10 Documentaries for 2024.  This list will feature documentaries that were talked about in 2024 Only.  All of these documentaries were a single episode in length.  That said I did want to include the 2023 Top 10 Documentaries list just as a refresher for the year.

The usual disclaimer, this list is my opinion only and should be taken with a grain of salt.  The purpose of this list is to help teachers, substitute teachers, and continuing learning lovers to help further learning to select something to use for the classroom.

2023 Top 10 Documentaries
1. Colosseum  - YouTube (1:28:18)
2. Eva - YouTube (56:09)
3. King George III: Genius of a Mad King: YouTube (58:56)
4. The Only Empress of China - YouTube (48:02)
5. Ivan the Terrible: Russia's First Tsar - YouTube (52:23)
6. First Flight: The Race to Create the World's First Flying Machine - YouTube (52:49)
7. The Lost City of Gold - YouTube (50:15)
8. Nancy Wake - YouTube (1:07:47)
9. The Last Days of Marie Antoinette - YouTube (1:44:10)
10. Frank Lloyd Wright - YouTube (59:15)

2024 Top 10 Documentaries
1) The Mystery of the Sea Peoples - YouTube (50:14)
Modern-day Egypt, Syria, Turkey, and Greece are home to some of the greatest Ancient Bronze Age civilizations.  The Hittites, Myceneans, and the Egyptian Empires were very powerful.  However, in 1200 BCE, these empires would implode and the Bronze Age would collapse.  Who or what was to blame for this collapse?  Archeologists have discovered evidence of people from the sea who invaded these empires.  Were these people responsible for the Bronze Age collapse?  *Highly recommended for both a history class and research purposes.*

2) Doggerland - YouTube (50:14)
Eight thousand years ago a paradise existed.  This paradise connected Britain and mainland Europe.  It was known as Doggerland, however, this area no longer exists.  It was wiped out by a devastating event.  What remains of Doggerland lies hidden underneath the waves of the North Sea.  However, slowly the sea is giving up its secrets.  Archeologists have slowly been revealing the Mesolithic paradise.  How did these people live?  Where did they go after their world collapsed?  *Highly Recommended for both a history and a science class.*

3) First Before Columbus The True Discoverers of America - YouTube (51:54)
There were other explorers before Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas.  They even hinted at the Americas in their maps.  Leif Erickson was one.  Legend has it that a Welsh prince-built castles along the Ohio River Valley.  An African King, who is said to have used his wealth to finance one of the world’s biggest fleets.  So was Christopher Columbus would be the first to discover America?  Or did he use oral traditions and written records to map out his voyage to the Americas?  *Highly recommend for middle school and high school classrooms.  It is a good filler for a substitute teacher.*

4) Empire of the Mongols - YouTube (48:12)
Mongols had built a large empire that claimed half the world in under a century.  This empire spanned from the Korean Peninsula to Europe.  It began with 100,000 men.  The Mongol invasion of Europe began with the fall of Kyiv and struck panic into the people.  How could such a small group of men bring Europe to its knees?  What technology was available at the time to enable such an expansion?  Who was the leader of the Mongols?  This documentary looks at the rise of the Mongol Empire.  *Recommended for a history class.*

5) They Called Her Jamila: The Mystery of Stone Age Ba’ja - YouTube (42:26)
A mysterious grave in Jordan has been discovered and it shocked the archeological world.  The grave was 9,000 years old and contained a girl.  The girl was found in a house of a Stone Age settlement and buried with high-quality and very expensive grave goods.  Who was this girl?  Why she was buried in a house?  What happened to this girl?  What does the grave reveal about the settlement she lived in?  What else do the archeologists discover about the Ba’ja site?  *Recommended for a high school history class.*

6) Skeletons of the Inca Rebellion - YouTube (44:24)
In the shadow of Lima Peru lies a graveyard containing skeletons.  Guillermo Cock, an expert in the Inca Empire was sent to the site to investigate any remains.  He is joined by fellow archeologist Elena Goycochea.   This site was going to be covered with a highway.  A test trench was built and what was found astonished Guillermo.  It would lead to a change in the understanding of Incan History.  What was found at this site?  Why would it lead to the rewriting of Incan history?  *Highly recommended for both a history and science classroom.*

7) Amelia: A Tale of Two Sisters - YouTube (44:02)
Society was changing and men were now taking to the skies in airplanes.  Women were demanding more rights and were finding achievements in aeronautics.  One such woman was Amelia Earhart.  Earhart was attracted to aviation and through determination and hard work, she would become the most famous aviator at the time.  She would inspire female aviators in future generations.  Her sister Muriel would not only champion her sister Amelia but would keep Amelia’s legacy alive.  To this day, people are still looking to solve the mystery of Amelia Earhart’s disappearance.  *Recommended for both a history class and for research.*

8) Tiny Holland, Great Holland - YouTube (47:27)
The Netherlands would rise from a humble beginning in the 16th Century.  The Netherlands, the size of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, declared independence from Spain.  Why would they declare independence from Spain?  Freedom of religion would be the national creed.  Eventually, the Netherlands would rule the oceans of the world.  How did the tiny Netherlands become such a superpower?  *Recommended for a history class and for research purposes.*

9) The Mummy Who Came In From The Cold - YouTube (53:07)
Eric Crubezy, an anthropologist has unearthed a strange tomb in Yakutia, a forgotten province in Siberia.  This tomb contained the body of a woman, with her eyes covered and clothed in a garment of pearls.  A second anthropologist, Eric Krubesi is excavating more ancient burials in the Yakuts in Eastern Siberia.  He is seeking genetic and anthropological data.  The Yakuts were a people of Eastern Siberia, and they have left few written records.  Their history remains largely unknown apart from burial sites that reveal complex burial rituals.  However, the discovery of this woman has raised questions about these ancient people.  *Recommended for a sub to show to a history class.*

10) Outlier: The Story of Katherine Johnson - YouTube (54:12)
Katherine Johnson was an African American girl-wonder who was a mathematical genius.  She loved mathematics and would count the steps going into church.  Her genius helped catapult astronauts into space.  She was an integral part of NASA and was profiled in the movie “Hidden Figures.”  Her computations were important to the first missions to space.  Who was this woman?  Why did she have such an impact on history?  This documentary features an interview with Katherine Johnson.  *HIGHLY Recommended for a history and math class.*

This is a recap on the documentaries about World War II for November!  Next month is year in review, top ten lists and fun documentaries that do not quite fit in a class curriculum. 

Stealth Sub - YouTube (51:07)
In the English Channel off the Isle of Wright, 80 feet beneath the surface there is the wreck of the submarine.  Although the English Channel was a busy area during World War II, there was no known submarine sinking in English History.  The official history of the area shows that there were no submarine patrols.  So why is this submarine there?  What happened to it?  The Deep Wreck Mystery crew is on the case.  *HIGHLY Recommended for both a science and history class.*

Pearl Harbor and the Pacific - YouTube (50:16)
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a ruthless surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.  The attack caught America off guard and would bring the United States into World War II.  The US Public was caught off guard by the attack and they want answers.  This attack is just a forewarning of what is to come when the Japanese continue their ruthless attacks in the Pacific. *NOT Recommended for a history class.*

D-Day - YouTube (53:54)
It was the early morning of December 6, 1944, and a group of ships were making their way for the beaches of Normandy.  Many of these men did not know where they were going.  On the French shore, nobody expected the invasion.  It would have been an immense gable that could have cost the soldiers thousands of lives.  What happened to prepare for D-Day behind the scenes?  Who made what decisions?  Who were the secret agents involved with the D-Day invasion?  This documentary examines the unknown facts and stories behind the D-Day invasion.  *Recommended for a history class.*

The Outbreak of World War II - The First Victim (48:17)  The First Day (48:12)
Poland fell under the Nazi Blitzkrieg which would start World War II.  This attack would last for six weeks.  However, its consequences for Poland would be devastating.  Poland would endure the harshest conditions under the Nazi regime.  The governor of Poland Hans Frank would have the power of life and death over the Polish people.  He would rule Poland with brutality and would eventually come to justice for his crimes.  *Highly recommended for a history class.*

Nazi Secrets - YouTube (46:53)
Hitler unleashed some of the most terrifying weapons on the sea.  These weapons were lost to sea.  Imagine if you were draining the seas to learn more about these weapons.  This episode looks at several different wrecks.  How close did Hitler come to building an atomic bomb?  Was the pride of Australia sunk by a German secret weapon?  How did the Nazis invent a nearly invisible sub?  Using the latest in technology these wrecks are scanned and examined to learn more about those Nazi secrets. *Highly recommended for a history class.*

Hunt for U-479 - YouTube (55:50)
There are 50,000 shipwrecks in the Baltic Sea.  It has unique environmental conditions that help preserve the shipwrecks.  It is considered a treasure trove of history.  During World War II, the Soviets and the Nazis were fighting for control of the Baltic Sea.  The biggest disaster took place in the Baltic Sea.  The Wilhelm Gustloff was sunk in the sea and took 9,000 souls.  A dive team is assembled to tell this story among others from World War II.  *Not recommended for a history class or for research purposes.*

Leningrad - YouTube (49:51)
Hitler decided to invade Russia and by 1941, Leningrad was completely surrounded.  Hitler expected that the invasion would be quick and that the Russians would surrender quickly.  However that was not what would happen.  The Germans would lay siege to the city for 872 days.  One and a half million people would die from starvation or from the German artillery bombardment.  It was one of the costliest sieges in history.  *Not recommended for a history class or for research purposes.*

Screaming Eagles - YouTube (53:58)
The Screaming Eagles were an integral part of the allied strategy during World War II.  They were the ones who would parachute into enemy territory and take down targets before the main army arrived.  Their training forged them together into a tight-knit fighting force.  These soldiers were the first soldiers to land in Normandy and would have a huge impact on turning the war into the Allies favor.  *HIGHLY recommended for both a history class as well as for research purposes.*

Red Devils - YouTube (50:30)
It was a unit known as the Red Devils.   The First Airborne was an elite fighting force in World War II.  There was a similar unit in the German military that inspired its creation.  These were paratroopers for the British military.  They were known to be physically fit and were going to be an elite regiment.  The First Airborne would become one of the bravest units of World War II.  *HIGHLY recommended for both a history class, independent study students as well as for research purposes.*

Good morning, November has flown by quickly and now let’s do a quick little recap of the documentaries featured for the month! 

The Legend of Manfred von Richthofen - YouTube (52:36)
Manfred von Richthofen was the greatest fighter ace during World War I.  He was also considered the most famous fighter pilot of all time.  He is credited with 80 air combat victories.  He belonged to the landed gentry before becoming a fighter pilot.  He would become a brilliant tactician and lead a squadron known as the “Flying Circus.”  This “Flying Circus” would be successful.  Unfortunately, Richthofen would be shot and killed in 1918, at the age of 25.  This is the story of Manfred von Richthofen.  *NOT recommended for a history class or research purposes.*

Mines of Ypres - Youtube (44:42)
World War I was going to be the war to end all wars.  New technology was introduced such as the airplane and more technologically advanced guns.  Gas was introduced.  Trench warfare was introduced.  This would have been a change to warfare and the soldiers who lived in the trenches would have faced difficult conditions.  There was endless mud and the trenches flooded.  How did these soldiers endure in these mud pits?  *NOT recommended for a history class or research purposes.*

Call to Arms - YouTube (47:25)
When war was declared in 1914, millions of British men signed up for the war believing that it would be a quick war.  These men rode on a wave of patriotic euphoria believing that the war would be an adventure.  However, the reality of the war started to settle in.  Soldiers from World War I were interviewed and now these voices have been brought together for the first time in a documentary series.  Now those voices are silent.  *Recommended for a history class and for research purposes.*

Battle of the Somme - YouTube (47:39)
The Battle of the Somme was one of the most bloody battles of World War I. By November 1916, over 150,000 troops had lost their lives on this front.  At the start of the battle, there were high hopes that one big push would finally end the war.  The British carefully planned with the French for a mass attack. Plans would be blown up and changed.  However, that did not happen and many lives were lost.  The veterans of this battle recall this battle.  *Recommended for a history class and for research purposes.*

Saving the Wounded  - YouTube (47:40)
The British military prided itself on the quality of medical care it could offer its wounded soldiers.  This was the legacy of Florence Nightingale.  However, that legacy would be challenged with the arrival of modern weapons.  Thousands of nurses and doctors were sent to the front-line hospital.  In the four years of fighting thousands of soldiers were wounded or killed which would put these caretakers under strain that even Florence Nightingale could not anticipate.  *Recommended for a history class and for research purposes.*

The Home Front - YouTube (47:23)
It was not just the soldiers, doctors, and nurses who suffered during the Great War.  Many families were left behind and they would witness Zeppelin raids, food shortages, and constant worries.  Would the news of their loved ones come to them through a telegram?  News from the front would oftentimes change these families forever.  Now the people that survived the home front of World War I take their turn and speak.  *Recommended for a history class and for research purposes.*

Horror in the Mud - YouTube (47:52)
It is 1917, and Arras and Passchendaele are on the horizon.  The British would attack the Germans at Arras and the battle would see some of the highest daily casualty rates.  The ware also shifts to the air and the Red Baron takes to the skies.  Then in the summer, the British advanced for Passchendaele.  Countless soldiers would drown in the mud and Passchendaele would soon become synonymous with the horror of mechanized warfare.  There was a sense that the soldiers were living on borrowed time. *Recommended for a history class and for research purposes.*

The Boys of 1918 - YouTube (47:40)
World War I is drawing to an end.  The Germans are launching one last major offensive to try to win.  In spring many conscripts are sent to the front to replace those who had lost their lives.  Thousands were taken prisoner of war by the Germans.  These prisoners of war would endure months of hardship.  At the same time, the Russian Revolution ended Russia’s involvement in the war.  Who would emerge from the war?  *Recommended for a history class and for research purposes.*

Mount Paterno - YouTube (45:07)
World War I was fought in the Alps.  In 1915, some of the most desperate struggles took place in the Alps.  A maze of tunnels and caverns were dug in the Dolomite range by both the Italians and the Austrians.  Mountain soldiers would fight, climb and die over the peaks of the Dolomites.  Heroes would be made among these peaks.  The Dolomites were on the front lines in the struggle between the Italians and Austrians.  *NOT recommended for a history class or research purposes.*

I am just about done with November and the World War I and World War II theme.  I am still finding documentaries to talk about when it comes to World War I and World War II.  When I started, it was a challenge to find World War I documentaries, however I am happy to be finding more and more documentaries on World War I.  In fact, I did more documentaries on World War I this month than I did on World War II.  That said I am glad to be building up both World War I and World War II sections in the YouTube drop down menu.  Today, I am looking at a documentary on World War II and the 1st Airborne.  This documentary has a run time of 50:30.

It was a unit known as the Red Devils.   The First Airborne was an elite fighting force in World War II.  There was a similar unit in the German military that inspired its creation.  These were paratroopers for the British military.  They were known to be physically fit and were going to be an elite regiment.  The First Airborne would become one of the bravest units of World War II. 

The First Airborne was inspired by a German military parachute unit.  Winston Churchill saw this unit and wanted the same for the British Military.  Tony Hibbert was one of the first men to volunteer for this regiment.  He had been evacuated from Dunkirk.  Eventually they were sent to Italy and were effective.  Eventually more and more paratroopers were recruited and trained to jump behind enemy lines.  Men had to be both physically fit and mentally fit.  They had to be of good character as well. 

Jim Knox joined the First Airborne and recalls the training.  It was rigorous and recruits had to run everywhere and not walk.  Knox thought his training officers were trying to kill him.  However this strictness of the training was to help craft an elite soldier.  Stephen Morgan recalls parachute training.  The men had to be able to work their parachutes in even the toughest of conditions.  They had to learn how to jump from an airplane.  The biggest challenge was “do you jump?”  The First Airborne recruits would have to jump seven times from two different types of airplanes. John Frost was a recruit to the parachute brigade.  He was an experienced officer.  Caroline Frost tells the story of her father.  He would become the commanding officer of the second battalion of the First Airborne.

The First Airborne’s mission was to jump behind enemy lines and capture a radar station.  Bad weather would delay the initial raid.  When the weather cleared, the men fly for France.  Unfortunately the British planes would come under fire.  That said, none of the airplanes were hit.  The attack was on and destroyed the radar station.  As they retreated to the beach, they took casualties.  However, the danger was not over.  Communication was poor; however the paratroopers would eventually be brought back to England.  Six men were wounded, six men were captured, and two men were dead.  This raid was a big morale boost to the English.  Parachute regiments were here to stay.  This raid was the first parachute regiment’s battle honor.

First World War I veterans Frederick Boy-Browning would lead the regiment and he wanted to give this regiment a distinguished look.  Maroon and Cambridge Blue were to be with regiment’s color, these colors were also Boy-Browning’s regiment colors.  The Pegasus was the mascot.  These colors and mascot were a sign that the man who wore them was someone they could trust, someone that they could go to war with.  To learn more about the First Airborne and their exploits continue to watch the rest of this episode.

This unit was mentioned in the series Band of Brothers, and it’s squadron leader was played by John Light who plays Flambeau on Father Brown.  Easy Company help get a company of First Airborne out from behind enemy lines.  It was nice to see a documentary on this division.  The story of Frost was interesting and I found it funny that he would use his horn to rally his troops.  Anyway this was a good documentary and one I would show to a history class and would recommend it to an independent study student.

Good morning, I am on the last week of November and winding down the World War I and World War II documentaries.  I am going to do a documentary on World War II about its first days.  The run time for this documentary is 48:12. The episode is called The First Day.

September 1, 1939 was the day when Adolph Hitler declared war on Poland.  His plan was to destroy the Polish military and then eventually the Polish nation.  He was going to obliterate the livelihoods of the Polish people as well as anyone else who stood in his way.  It was a time that ended the childhoods of millions of children.  This is the story of what happened on the first day of the invasion.

The story begins with a recreation of the order that went out for the invasion.  The war was going to begin.  Otto Schmidt recalls the day of the invasion and how the people would die.  The Nazi Airforce made their move on a small Polish town.  Schmidt recalls diving and bombing the center of the town.  He was horrified as he knew that the people did not know that they were at war. 

Piortr Kieszkowski spoke about how that day of war was when his childhood ended.  He was in the village of Wielun that was being bombed by Schmidt and his men.  He recalls the house collapsing around him.  He recalls being in darkness and that his mouth was full of dust.  It was a miracle that they had survived.  His grandmother would sadly pass away in the bombing.  The bombing of Wielun was a practice for what was to come.  Schmit recalls feeling horrified at what he had done.

Could the war have been avoided?  The Great Powers wanted to avoid war and were willing to deal with Hitler to achieve that peace.  Hitler had his eyes on Czechoslovakia and he was going to get land from Czechoslovakia.  He was going to go to war for it and the Western Powers still weary from World War I would give him the land.  The people were not consulted on this land transfer.  They would have to accept their fate for peace.  It was a “classic blackmail scheme.”  The peace deal was just a way to help give Hitler time to build up his military.  

However, Hitler was slowly preparing for war and had been secretly rearming Germany.  He was flexing his power and challenging the Allies.  His first challenge was in 1936 when he invaded the Rhineland and the West could only protest his invasion.  Eventually, Hitler took over Austria.  He was bringing German territories into the Reich.  He would have his eyes on recovering Danzing, a swath of land that was under the League of Nations control.  Finally, Hitler would invade the rest of Czechoslovakia.

Eventually, the Allies would see that Hitler would not stop claiming territories.  He had no limit to his aims.  The Polish government looked at Hitler and drew its conclusions.  They would make no concessions to Hitler and would fight back against Hitler.  However, Hitler was prepared to wipe out the whole Polish State.  The return of Danzing was the pretext for Hitler’s Polish invasion.  Polish people in Danzing would find themselves under persecution from the Germans.  One resident recalls Germans throwing rocks at their windows.

The Polish army tried to build up their strength.  However, the Polish military would not be a match for the German army.  That said, the Polish government put out propaganda saying that the Polish army could march into Berlin in a mere three weeks.  However, the truth was that they would not be able to stand up against the mighty German war machine.  Eventually, the military would be sent to the German border, and the threat of invasion hung in the air.  For many children it would have been the last time they would have seen their fathers.  To learn more about the beginning of World War II continue to watch the rest of the documentary.

I liked this episode, it was very well done and went through a careful explanation of the lead up to World War II.  The recreations were well done and it had a very good flow.  I would show this to a history class room.